On Wednesday the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced that its teacher and occasional teacher members voted 95 per cent in favour of central strike action.
“This strong strike mandate sends a very clear message to the government,” says ETFO President Karen Brown. “Our members have been working for over a year without a contract, and their patience has run out. We need the government to stop stalling and start negotiating seriously on our members’ key priorities, like providing more supports for students with special needs, acknowledging the staffing crisis in education, putting a fair compensation offer on the table, and addressing violence in schools.”
This strike mandate does not necessarily mean that ETFO members will be engaging in work-to-rule strike action or heading to picket lines at this time. Negotiations will continue at ETFO’s Teacher/Occasional Teacher Central Table.
Adds Brown, “With the assistance of the conciliator appointed by the Minister of Labour, we continue to work diligently to reach an agreement that is fair for our teacher and occasional teacher members. We remain focused on getting government cuts off the table and on getting the improvements ETFO members and students need and deserve.”
In response to the vote, Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce released a statement.
“Our government has remained at the table to avoid a strike and keep kids in class,” said Lecce. “It is extremely disappointing that ETFO has rejected every opportunity to get a deal that ensures stability for students and parents, including sending outstanding matters to an interest arbitrator. Instead, ETFO has voted in favour of a strike-mandate that Ontario families do not want or deserve.”
ETFO represents approximately 80,000 public elementary teachers and occasional teachers, and 3,500 designated early childhood educators, education support personnel, and professional support personnel. Details about ETFO collective bargaining and bargaining dates are available at etfocb.ca.